O’Neill helps Antrim net a Croke final spot

TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship

Antrim 3-10 Sligo 1-10

By Deniese O’Flaherty

ANTRIM, champions in 2022, are back in the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship final after a hard-fought victory over Sligo in St. Tiernach’s Park in Clones.

The Ulster side were made to work hard for the win by a Sligo side who never gave up and had cut the gap to just three entering the closing stages.

Ellen Kelleher opened the scoring with a pointed free. Lara Dahunsi replied for Antrim. Leah Duffy and Sarah O’Neill then exchanged scores as the sides were level for the second time in the sixth minute.

Two Duffy frees edged Sligo ahead by two in the 13th minute but Antrim then took control. Frees from Bronagh Devlin and Maria O’Neill drew the Saffrons level in the 17th minute. Dahunsi put Antrim ahead for the first time one minute later.

In the 20th minute Antrim keeper Aine Devlin pulled off a save to deny Duffy. Sligo had possession but just couldn’t get scores as Antrim defended resolutely.

Another free from the boot of O’Neill gave Antrim a four point lead going in at the break at 0-8 to 0-4.

Anna McDaniel kicked over the first point of the second half in the 33rd minute; it was Sligo’s first point since the 13th minute of play. Aine Tubridy cancelled it out with a fine effort.

In the 37th minute Antrim got a goal. O’Neill picked up possession, raced through and held off a Sligo defender before firing to the net.

Sligo had a chance to get back into the game minutes later but the Antrim net-minder Devlin saved from McDaniel for the second time. She followed up with a point in the 40th minute.

Bronagh Devlin restored Antrim’s seven point advantage one minute later with a fine point. O’Neill grabbed her and her side’s second goal in the 51st minute but Sligo responded immediately with a goal of their own from Duffy.

Points from Duffy (free) and substitute Rianne Smith (two) cut the gap to just three in the 58th minute. As the Yeats County went in search of scores Antrim were back in numbers. They sealed their win with a third goal in stoppage time from substitute Aoibhoinn Monaghan.

Scorers

Antrim: M O’Neill 2-2 (0-1f), A Monaghan 1-0, A Tubridy, B Devlin (1f), L Dahunsi 0-2 each, S O’Neill, L Agnew 0-1 each

Sligo: L Duffy 1-4 (3fs), A McDaniel, R Smith 0-2 each, E Kelleher (f), S Curley 0-1 each

ANTRIM: Á Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, C McKenna; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, M O’Neill, A Kelly; B Devlin, L Dahunsi, L Agnew
Sub: O Ni Corra for McKenna (55), A Monaghan for B Devlin (57), D Boyd for Agnew and O Todd for Kelly (60).

SLIGO: E Maguire; J Creegan, C Dunne, H Walsh; C King, C Walsh, T Breheny; S Regan, R Kennedy; M McCormack, A McDaniel, S Feeney; L Duffy, C Gilligan, E Kelleher
Subs: N Brennan for Kelleher 38, C Gorman for McCormack 44, S Curley for Creegan 46, R Smith for Gilligan 50, L Normanly for Kennedy 60

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath)